Allen Township to work with PennDOT on plan to improve Route 329

Allen Township officials will work with PennDOT on a plan for improvements on a heaily traveled stretch of Route 329.

Allen Township officials will work with PennDOT on a plan for improvements on a heaily traveled stretch of Route 329. (MORNING CALL FILE PHOTO)

Kevin DuffySpecial to The Morning Call

What does Allen Township have in mind for Route 329?

Allen Township hopes to have a plan in place soon with state officials for road improvements along a heavily traveled portion Route 329.

Township officials met recently with PennDOT representatives at the district office in Allentown to discuss road improvements where Route 329 intersects with Howertown Road and farther west at Savage Road.

The township wants turning lanes at both intersections, along with gradual road-widening westward, along Route 329 from Howertown to Savage.

Both intersections see heavy traffic, including commercial uses, with a gas station/convenience store at Howertown and Route 329, and A&A Limousine Service across from it. An Ace hardware store is at Route 329 and Savage Road.

Township engineer Brien Kocher said the township has a concept plan in place with PennDOT for the improvements but needs to submit a design application to get the ball rolling.

Gradual widening of 329 west of Howertown to Savage, including where a small bridge runs over a stream, will have to be done to accommodate turning lanes into the Ace off Savage Road, he said.

The township Planning Commission will consider a proposal on Monday from Century Land Development Co., Berks County, to create an industrial park on a large tract of open land adjacent to the Ace store, Kocher said. That land is owned by Horwith Trucks, Northampton.

Township Manager Ilene Eckhart said the township will have to work with property owners along the roadway to determine which properties will be affected by the work if and when it begins.

"Existing driveway accesses will require our involvement," she said.

One such driveway, extending from a residence adjacent to the limousine service that is owned by the business, will likely be affected, she said.

"The driveway that serves that building will be required to be changed," she said.